#animal-welfare

#animal-welfare

"Criminalizing people for rescuing suffering animals is a moral failure," Phoenix wrote. "Compassion is not a crime. When individuals step in to save a life because the system has looked the other way, they should be supported - not prosecuted. We have to decide who we are as a society: one that protects the vulnerable, or one that punishes those who try."

He's taken up the mantle of keeping the world's zoos in check at an interesting time, when their role in modern society is the subject of heated debate, with rows about lonely gorillas or penguins kept in a basement seem to erupt every week. Keeping wild animals solely for entertainment purposes was socially acceptable some decades ago, but there are now far more concerns for their welfare and the conservation objectives of their captivity. This particularly applies to animals such as elephants, which need large spaces to roam and in the wild have complex relationships within giant social groups.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

After receiving treatment at the hospital, the dog was named Ruaidhri. This comes as the animal welfare charity says it is tackling a skyrocketing number of animals being dumped outside. In England and Wales, 24,270 incidents of abandonment were reported marking a 23 per cent increase on last year. To put that into perspective, it means an abandonment incident was reported to the charity's emergency line every nine minutes it was open across the first ten months of this year.

Many creatures exhibit same-sex behaviour but gay rams are often sent to slaughter because they can't fulfil their "breeding role." However, Rainbow Wool is now giving them a loving home. On average, one in every 12 sheep is thought to be gay. "We rescue them before that happens, giving them a safe home where they can live and love freely. Each year, their wool is crafted into fashion, with profits donated to the queer charity LSVD+," a spokesperson for the farm said.

The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL), a female-founded animal welfare organization that has operated since 1899, received a $2 million donation Nov. 13 from Arthur and Paula Rabe, the Boston Business Journal reported. The gift will support the ARL's construction of a new three-story facility in the South End, which is expected to cost $48 million.

Chatting with the British talk show on Nov. 10, Goldblum reflected on his character's crimes - calling out the Wizard of Oz's decision to "instigate and facilitate animal cruelty," in addition to his "persecution of the Munchkins, and bad propaganda about vilifying Elphaba." The plight of animals in Oz, in particular, is a key theme of Wicked. As seen in the first film, animals like Dr. Dillamond are being silenced. And when Elphaba arrives in the Emerald City, she's tricked into reciting a spell that harms the Wizard's captive monkeys.

Born Free/PA Media Penguins "trapped" in the Sea Life London Aquarium must "get the life they deserve", a group of MPs has warned. The captivity of 15 Gentoo penguins at the riverside attraction is "un-British", said David Taylor, Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead, who is leading the campaign. The aquarium, owned by Merlin Entertainments, opened its first penguin exhibit in May 2011 with 10 Gentoo penguins from Edinburgh Zoo.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

Turkeys labeled USDA Organic meet specific requirements of organic farming. Turkeys carrying this label may not receive antibiotics, arsenic compounds, or animal byproducts, and must eat 100% organic feed. The animals must have access to the outdoors or pasture, and GMOs are prohibited. You do have a choice when shopping, so why not buy a turkey that was raised as healthy food, not an industrial product? Purchase an organic turkey from a local farm or farmers' market and familiarize yourself with these labels:

This frisky film explores the canine-centric milieu with affection and respect but, laudably, it also makes room, about halfway through its runtime, for the case against racing as articulated by several animal rights activists who decry the conditions in which some dogs are raised, the practice of euthanising animals deemed no longer viable for racing, and the injury risks racing itself poses.

A troubled New Zealand wildlife park says it has been forced to euthanise two of its elderly lions, with the fate of its remaining five lions unclear, after it ran into financial difficulties. The privately owned Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary in the northern city of Whangarei closed its doors on the weekend. In a post on Facebook on Tuesday, the sanctuary said its owner Bolton Equities had put the 32.5ha property up for sale in August and its seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be euthanised following a difficult decision made by the property owner.

Garda Damien Prendergast, from Dunlavin Garda Station, told the court that in March 2023, while driving through Dunlavin, he saw several sheep wandering on the road. He returned the animals to Mr Mooney's land, where he observed dead livestock, animal carcasses and a strong smell of decay. He said he returned later the same day with other gardaí to inspect the scene. On their return, they took photographs which were shown in court. These depicted several dead and decomposing cows, lambs and sheep.

They're not sad at all, said Gedman. The question of whether the gorillas at Bristol Zoo Gardens might be sad has made headlines in the UK tabloids and provoked concern from animal lovers around the world. Three years ago the site near the Clifton Suspension Bridge closed to the public and most of the animals were moved to a new site, Bristol Zoo Project, on the edge of the city, where they have larger, leafier enclosures.

Today's test confirmed my conviction that knowing where your food comes from is among the most effective actions consumers can take. This means buying from farmers' markets, butchers or directly from farms (online or in person). Some supermarkets also now work with independent family farms to provide better levels of transparency (although, do beware of fake farms, because some supermarkets have been known to make up fictional brands).

In the days following Diane Keaton's death at 79, fans, friends, and fellow actors have remembered the screen icon with touching tributes and personal memories. Now, Keaton's family is opening up about how she died and sharing one meaningful way fans can honor the late star. Diane Keaton's Cause Of Death In a new statement to People, Keaton's family shared that the mom of two died of pneumonia on Oct. 11.

A train driver on the S6 service from Essen noticed to his surprise on reaching the final stop at Cologne-Worringen that three passengers were still loitering in first class. The trio of chickens, who had even been provided an ample layer of straw to peck through, had seemingly either been abandoned or (surely not?) forgotten by whoever brought them aboard.

Located across a causeway from downtown Miami and overlooking Biscayne Bay, the park was beloved by those who grew up visiting the landmark, but plagued by persistent animal welfare complaints. Last year, the aquarium's parent company received an eviction notice for the waterfront property it leases from Miami-Dade County. Local cited a "long and troubling history of violations." The action followed a series of federal inspections that found multiple problems, including unsafe and structurally deficient buildings.

Melanie Kaplan: I'm a long-time journalist and a pretty curious person, so when I found myself living with Hammy-a really special creature who'd lived in a lab for several years-I felt I had no choice but to tell his story. I realized much of what I felt with Hammy- bonding with a pet, wanting to understand the background of someone I'd fallen in love with, questioning things that seemed unfair-was universal, so I thought people would relate to what I'd experienced.

A military horse which bolted through central London after being startled by construction work has retired. Images of the frightened animals were broadcast worldwide. Service personnel were thrown from their horses when the animals got loose. The horses smashed into vehicles, including a double-decker bus, and caused a number of injuries. Ambulance crews treated four people in three separate incidents in Buckingham Palace Road, Belgrave Square and at the junction of Chancery Lane and Fleet Street, in the space of 10 minutes.

Three new laws will implement more stringent health and transparency rules in the sale of cats, dogs and rabbits including prohibiting pet sales by brokers in an effort to stop the flow of animals coming from out-of-state breeding operations into California, according to a news release from the California State Legislature. The three bills collectively known as the Stop The Puppy Mill Pipeline legislative package, titled for the infamous dog-breeding operations were signed into law Thursday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Hoger points to a troubling legal loophole: "There's a thriving black market for trading protected species. Exotic animals are openly advertised in WhatsApp groups and at pet fairs even those strictly protected in their countries of origin. Because Germany doesn't recognize their protected status, these animals can be sold legally here, despite having been smuggled out illegally in the first place."